Myra Panache's book of original stories, "Book 1: Short Stories" has been released. Titles include: "Ballin 4" "Downlow Escort" "Female Assassin" "Above Top Secret" "Inside The Life Of A $1,000 Per Hour Call Girl" (Prequel to $20,000 Per Weekend Call Girl), "Female Seeking Female" (Personal Ad Nightmare) and "Experiments." To order, click on the following link, Book 1: Short Stories by Myra Panache

Rhianna's performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday was nearly ruined when an over-zealous fan jumped onto the stage.

Eminem has revealed he doesn't go out on dates because he is too famous and finds it difficult to trust people.

R&B superstar Akon has poured the profits from his live shows into funding a new school in Senegal.

Iman isn't rushing husband David Bowie back to work-because he's a great house-husband (worth multi-millions) and father. "He has a lot of other things. He's a writer and he's a painter, he does sculpture and he's a dad to our 10 year old daughter, so I think his life is full."

Denzel Washington is still struggling to come to terms with the 9/11 terror attacks, insisting the traumatic events of the fateful day "changed his life" forever and made him even prouder to be a New Yorker.He says, "I'm from New York. I was at Ground Zero and it changed my life. I'm a native New Yorker to the day I die. I had to be there. I was stunned... For everyone involved, it was traumatic.

Christian Louboutin will open 12 new stores next year. The famous shoe designer will expand his empire by launching shops in China, Japan, the Middle East, Brazil, Italy and the US.

In June 1954 Isadore Banks (above) was one Of The Wealthiest Black Landowners In Arkansas.

He Would Later Be Chained To A Tree, Castrated, Doused With Gasoline & Burned Beyond Recognition.

His Family Had To Flee The State.

He Did Not Receive A Proper Funeral Service.

Over 2,000 Acres Of His Land As Well As His Other Holdings Including $93,000 Dollars In A Bank Were Illegally Taken By His Murderers.

His Case Remains Unsolved To This Day.

BACKSTORY:

Marion, Arkansas (CNN) -- A traditional three-shot volley salute and the solemn sound of taps echoed across the black cemetery in the Delta flatlands of Arkansas, just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee.

The military honors were followed by the jubilant singing of "Amazing Grace." The service had been five decades in the making.

Everyone was here to honor Isadore Banks, an African-American veteran of World War I who was chained to a tree in June 1954, doused in gasoline and burned beyond recognition.

The slaying -- a year before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to whites on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama -- remains one of the nation's oldest unsolved civil rights cases.

"This has been a long time coming," said Marcelina Williams, a granddaughter who worked with the Army to arrange Monday's ceremony after she found her grandfather's military records. "Bless our country with freedom and righteousness."

A pillar in the African-American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest black landowners in a region with a long history of racial violence.

His killing had a profound effect. Many blacks left and never came back. For those who remained, the message was clear: If you were black and acquired wealth, you knew your place.

Blacks from all around would come to the killing site -- to look at the oak sapling, to pray and to never forget. It seems most everyone in Crittenden County's black community had a hunch who was responsible.

To this day, some elders still name names. Yet they say no investigators ever interviewed them.
The questions linger: Why was no one ever charged? What happened to his hundreds of acres of land? Why did the FBI destroy his case file?

But on this day, in a rare moment in time, a semblance of dignity was restored to Banks, more than 90 years after he served his country in war.

Loved ones and about 50 others from the African-American community gathered in Marion Memorial Park, the black cemetery where Banks was buried so many years ago.
They burned him like a hog.

An honor guard folded an American flag 13 times, as is tradition, and handed it to one of Banks' daughters, Dorothy Williams. "I present this flag on behalf of a grateful nation," said Army Spc. Mathew Garland.

Williams set free five white doves, one representing each decade that has passed since her father was killed. The birds flew from a heart-shaped basket and circled the cemetery three times.

A sixth dove, representing Banks, was released by a granddaughter. "Let's set Grandfather free," said Marcelina Williams.

The dove soared in the air and joined the flock. All six flew off into the clouds, in the direction of where Banks died on that hot summer day.

Said his granddaughter: "It was like I was watching my grandfather take his rest, his true final rest."

Isadore Banks was a giant -- 6-foot-1 and nearly 300 pounds. He was a quiet man who rarely laced up his shoes because his feet were so big. A generous spirit, he would pay for supplies at the local black school.

Marcelina Williams says she will not rest until her grandfather, Isadore Banks, gets justice.
A ladies' man, he also was known to carry on several affairs. His heirs include children and grandchildren from those relationships.

At 22, Banks left his hometown of Marion to join the Army. As a young black man in the segregated South, he had been denied the rights and privileges of his white peers. Yet when his nation called, Banks responded.

His first day in the service was June 15, 1918, in the final months of World War I. Records show his first payment was $71.30. It appears Banks was sent to Camp Pike, a massive complex near Little Rock where tens of thousands of soldiers with the 87th Division trained for battle. Blacks were kept separate from the white troops.

It's not clear from Banks' military records whether he deployed overseas. He received an honorable discharge on August 2, 1919.

After the war, Banks returned home and put his experience to work. In 1925, he was one of five men who brought electricity to this tiny Delta town. Working for a utility company out of Memphis, they dug holes with shovels and lifted the large wooden poles by hand. They strung up the wires and, within four months, Marion had power. Banks and his co-workers then brought power to nearby communities.

Along the way, Banks began buying land. He farmed cotton and helped form a black-owned cotton gin business in the 1940s to prevent white farmers from undermining the profits of black farmers. He also started a trucking company.

At one time, he owned as many as 1,000 acres in Crittenden County, according to newspaper accounts. Land deeds show Banks had at least 640 acres in 1947.

It was a very frightening situation, as well as a very sad situation.

On June 4, 1954, Banks disappeared. Newspaper accounts said his wife, Alice Banks, told authorities he went to get money from the bank to pay his workers.

His body was not discovered for days. He was 59, a month away from celebrating his 60th birthday.

"Chain Arkansas Farmer To Tree, Set Him Afire," read the headline of The Chicago Defender, an African-American newspaper, on June 26, 1954.

"Rumors here state that Banks may have been killed by whites who were anxious to get hold of his property," the newspaper said.

"Another theory says that Banks had been involved with several girls, and had incurred the anger of a white man who was interested in one of them."

A reward of $1,000 was offered by local blacks for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

His body was found about 50 feet from his parked truck. An empty gasoline container sat next to his charred remains. Locals say three black men may have lured Banks to a group of whites.

At 97, Herman Hayes speaks in a voice like molasses, slow and deliberate. He has difficulty hearing. But he remembers the day Banks was found. How could anyone forget it?

Hayes went to the site shortly after the killing. The ground was scorched near the tree. Banks' killers had used tree limbs as kindling for his corpse. His Remington shotgun was still inside his truck.

The body was wrapped in cloth from head to knees. Only his shoes, Hayes said, were identifiable.

"It was beyond human what they did."

Justice being what it was for black people back then, he said, "There was nothing you could do. ... People were just afraid. They didn't know what else was going to happen."

Jim Banks, now 67, was 11 when his father was killed. He remembers his uncle came to the house with the news.

"My mother collapsed," he said. "I can't articulate how I felt and what I went through in those days. It was not just me; it was a community thing. Everybody was just upset and fearful. It was a very frightening situation, as well as a very sad situation."
Fearing reprisals, Jim Banks and his mother, Willie Lee Banks, soon split town for Illinois.

His mother had always told him that she and his father had married in Las Vegas. He never questioned her. Records from the time show Isadore Banks was married to a different woman, Alice. Jim Banks doesn't know if his father was married to Alice and his mother at the same time. And that's troubling to him, too.

He was afraid to visit the site of his father's death for years. He finally got the nerve to go there in the 1990s. Looking at the tree, "I tried to vision what happened and the pain he endured."
Lack of justice

Julian Fogleman, now 89 and still practicing law, was the city attorney for Marion at the time of Isadore Banks' killing. His brother John, who was the assistant prosecuting attorney, is dead.

"There was some community discussion about who might've done it, but I never heard any suggestion of any name," Julian Fogleman said.

A coroner's inquiry to develop facts should've been launched into the killing, but "I can't tell you if they did or they didn't," he said.

Though Julian Fogleman followed his brother as deputy prosecutor in the 1950s, he said he never pursued Banks' case.

How does he feel that a killer was never brought to justice?

"I don't know what I think," said Fogleman, his voice growing agitated. "It hasn't happened, but 'why' I don't know." He added, "I just don't know."

In 1963, another killing grabbed headlines in Marion. A white woman said she saw Andrew Lee Anderson, a 17-year-old African-American, try to rape her 8-year-old daughter.

As word spread of the alleged attack, Anderson was chased by a mob of white men, including six sheriff's deputies. He was shot in the back of his leg in a soybean field. He was unarmed. A coroner's jury of 19 white men took just 20 minutes to rule the case justifiable homicide.

"We don't think the decision was wrong and don't plan to go any further with it," Julian Fogleman, then the assistant prosecutor, told the Arkansas Gazette.

Arkansas historians consider Crittenden County the most racist in the state. One, Michael Dougan, summed up the county's history on race relations in a single word: "Awful."

The killings of Isadore Banks and Andrew Lee Anderson are among the 108 priority cases identified by the Civil Rights Cold Case Initiative. Launched by the FBI in 2006, the investigations are a final push to try to solve racially motivated crimes from the 1950s and 1960s.

The Justice Department last month said it has closed eight cases and is in the process of closing 18 others, pending notification of family members. Three cold cases were referred to state prosecution in the last four years.

Banks' killing is still being investigated. "The FBI is taking this case very seriously," said FBI spokesman Chris Allen.

But on October 19, 1992, the FBI destroyed the case file. It likely included records, interviews, photographs and any correspondence between the field office and FBI headquarters.

"It was destroyed according to standard Records Retention and Disposition," Allen said. "This policy is not set by the FBI, but by the National Archives and Records Administration."

That's another outrage, say Banks' family members.

Monday marked the first time Dorothy Williams had ever returned to Marion. It brought back a flood of emotions. She was 5 when her father was killed. Her mother was one of his girlfriends.

Dorothy Williams was presented an American flag in honor of her father, Isadore Banks.

Fearing trouble, Isadore Banks had packed his daughter, her siblings and their mother into a truck and sent them to St. Louis. "I'll contact you when things calm," he said.

They never heard from him again. About a month later, an aunt sent a photograph of her father's charred corpse.

"I never will forget what they did to my daddy -- never as long as I shall live," she said.

Monday's event brought her family together with Jim Banks for the first time in an awkward reunion of sorts. Jim kept his distance.

"To be truthful, I hate to have to relive all those memories," he said of his father's death.

Yet everyone here was united behind the man who was killed five decades earlier.

"Until we know who the culprits were who took dad's life and until we know what happened to our land, it can never be a complete closure," Jim Banks said.

Army Sgt. Jamin Crawford placed his bugle to his lips. The wind carried the sound of taps through the cemetery.

"This is really special for me," said the African-American bugler, "to give the guy the respect he was deprived of."

The military ceremony didn't bring justice this day, but it did bring pride.

Isadore Banks, a man who represents the injustice of an era, will forever be known by a new moniker: private in the U.S. Army, veteran of the Great War.

Karyn White (born Karyn Layvonne White on October 14, 1965) is a Pop/R&B singer who became popular during the late 1980s.

White was born in Los Angeles,to the parentage of Vivian and Clarence White. She is the youngest of five children. She sang in a church choir and worked as a backing singer, then sang on Jeff Lorber's single "Facts of Love" before signing to Warner Bros. Records.

White's self-titled debut album Karyn White was released in 1988. It was produced by L.A. Reid & Babyface and achieved platinum status. Karyn White contained the hit singles "The Way You Love Me", "Secret Rendezvous" (#6 in the U.S., her biggest hit at the time), "Superwoman" and "Love Saw It" a duet with Babyface. White was nominated in the Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist category for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards.

Her follow-up album was Ritual of Love in 1991. It had songs produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and featured the hit single "Romantic," which hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

White left Warner Bros. Records afterwards, and dropped out of the music public foot for many years to start a family. White married Terry Lewis in 1992 and together they had a daughter, Ashley Nicole. They eventually divorced, and she later married producer/musician Bobby G.

Her next album was Make Him Do Right in 1994. The album did not sell particularly well, although she did chart with the singles "Hungah" and the Babyface-penned "Can I Stay With You," which became her final U.S. R&B Top 10 hit in early 1995.

White was also slated to appear on the Soul Train Music Awards in 2009 as a tribute to Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Unfortunately this performance was canceled when Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A" Reid withdrew from the Soul Train ceremony, declining the honor.

She currently resides in Rocklin, California, a suburb of Sacramento, and runs a successful interior design and real estate business. In 2006 she recorded a new album, titled Sista Sista; which was slated for release in 2006, but has since been shelved. Two tracks from the shelved album, "All I Do" and "Disconnected," were later released on the Best-Of compilation (Superwoman).

The murder of Christopher Barrios should carry an automatic death sentence.

The 6-year-old was kidnapped, repeatedly raped and murdered by a trio of pedophiles (above) in Brunswick, GA in March of 2007. Peggy Edenfield watched (and allegedly participated) as her husband and son molested and murdered the child.

BACKSTORY:

Christopher Barrios' body was discovered on March 15, 2007 just a few miles from where he disappeared. George Edenfield, David Edenfield and Peggy Edenfield are all accused of Christopher's abduction and murder. George and Peggy Edenfield are awaiting trial on capital murder charges. A fourth person, Donald Dale, who originally was charged with tampering with evidence and concealing a body, has since pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of lying to police. Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett accepted the plea and transferred Dale to a mental health facility and banished him from Glynn County. Peggy Edenfield testified in the case against her husband David and has also agreed to testify against her son George during his trial. In exchange for her testimony, Peggy will not face the death penalty.

David Edenfield was charged in 1994 for committing incest with his daughter and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 10 years probation.

George Edenfield was convicted of two counts of child molestation and given probation in May 1997. In September 2006, he was indicted for violating his probation by living less than 1,000 feet from a park in downtown Brunswick, and was ordered to move. On March 5, 2007, days before Christopher was abducted, Edenfield was sentenced to 10 years probation.

A state law banning convicted sex offenders from living within a thousand feet of parks, playgrounds, child-care facilities, schools, churches, swimming pools and school bus stops, was passed in 2006. However, the school bus stop provision was blocked by a federal judge pending his decision in a suit claiming this provision to be unconstitutional. George Edenfield and his family lived within just a few feet of a school bus stop that Christopher regularly used to go to school.

In October 2008, Christopher's photo showed up on an episode of General Hospital: Night Shift. In the episode, actor Billy Dee Williams receives a letter and photo from a son he abandoned. The producers of the show have stated that they are unsure how they got the photo and offered an apology. In addition, they promised to air a series of public service announcements in Christopher's honor. The attorney for the family has filed a civil suit against the SOAPnet channel, which airs the soap opera, claiming invasion of privacy.

*If you read an excerpt from a book or a movie review in the following categories (on the front page) you can now click on our bookstore/DVD links and purchase in minutes for your private book and film libraries! New & used (reasonable rates).

MYRA PANACHE'S PERSONAL DVD & BOOK SELECTIONS:

"BLACK UNDERWORLD THEATER" (MOVIES)

Purchase (new or used) DVD's on black kingpins and syndicates: Including the infamous "Black Mafia Family." This organization grossed $250 million over seven years. Learn about black kingpin Nicky Barnes, he ran New York in the 70's. Rayful (Ray) Edmond introduced Washington, D.C. to crack while generating $70 million per month, he also had 150 soldiers on payroll. Witness the true story of Alpo, Rich and AZ, the teenaged kingpins (16 & 17) who ruled NY; Alpo was the first black man in this country to drive a Lamborghini at 17. Their story was portrayed in the film, "Paid In Full." Numerous other black underworld DVD'S to chose from. Click here to get started: "Black Underworld Theater"

"URBAN & ESPIONAGE BOOKSTORE" (NEW & OLD SCHOOL)

A few of our new or used titles include: Rick James's explosive fast paced biography, "Memoirs Of A Super Freak," Bumpy Johnson (The Harlem Godfather). Bumpy was the most powerful black gangster who ever lived, also read about R&B legend Sam Cooke, Motown's Tammi Terrell and rap icon Tupac Shakur. Also get a dose of Hollywood damage control by reading "The Fixers." Numerous titles to chose from, most of our prior books featured in our Nostalgia segment are included in this bookstore. Click this link to get started: Urban & Espionage Books (New & Old School)

"URBAN & ESPIONAGE CINEMA" (DVD'S)

A few of our new & used titles include: "Echo Of Murder," which focuses on the Atlanta Child Murders and an KKK link.

"Blind Faith," is centered in the 50's and deals with a homosexual secret that leads to the murder of a white teen at the hands of a black teen, Charles Dutton, Lonette McKee and Courtney Vance star, (VHS only).

Executive Action gives you a glimpse into theories involving the JFK assassination, behind the scenes, explosive! Morgan Freeman plays a hired killer (he and his kill crew) terrorize a man and son on vacation.

"The Fixer," takes you inside the life of a fixer and his day to day duties. Chose from these and other titles by clicking here: Urban & Espionage Cinema

"FINANCE BOOKSTORE"

A few of our new and used titles include: "The Wall Street Journal," by David Kansas is the best book to purchase if you're new to finance and investing. This book is investing 101. It teaches you the language and also teaches you on how to read stock tables. A must read for serious beginners."Why Should White Guys Have The Fun?" should be required reading for every African American on this planet. This book is so insightful and motivating. It tells the story of Reginald F. Lewis, my hero.

The first black man who would have reached billionaire status if he would have lived; he was worth $500 million at the time of his death. He was the first black man to head a law firm on Wall Street, he also owned TLC Beatrice, a global company worth billions and he's the only black man to have a building named after him at an Ivy League University (Harvard).

He was trying to purchase the Baltimore Orioles before he died of brain cancer. In this book, Lewis offers the keys to success and tells you how he succeeded in international business. "Investing For Dummies," is a good read for novice investors. Click here to get started: Finance Bookstore

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